Hinge assembly

ABSTRACT

This hinge assembly includes a base having a lid attached thereto by means of a pair of articulating hinges which permit the lid to be swung about the base and also to be raised relative to the base. Each hinge consists of a slotted hinge element attached to the base and a second hinge element attached to the lid. Associated elements of each pair of hinges are interconnected by a pin which is slidably received within the slot of the slotted hinge elements. One of the hinge elements of each pair includes a pair of shoulders and the other includes a pair of associated abutment lugs. One of the shoulders engages one of the abutment lugs to hold the lid in a spaced horizontal position and the other shoulder engages the other lug to hold the lid in a vertical position. A bell crank element, pivotally attached to the slotted hinge element, provides a notched latch supporting the pin and predetermining the space between the lid and the base.

United States Patent Roberts [451 Aug. 8, 1972 HINGE ASSEMBLY PrimaryExaminer-Richard A. Schacher 72 lnvemon, 0 d Robe S El AssistantExaminer-Michael Y. Mar 1 Products fgffgg, Attorney-Cohn and Powell CapeGirardeau, Mo. 63701 t [57] CT -[22] Filed: March 4, 1970 1 TH hi bl l dbase h rd 1S nge assem y me u es a avmg a l at- .[211 P 16,345 tachedthereto by means of a pair of articulating hinges which permit the lidto be swung about the [521 US. Cl. ..220/32, 16/166, 16/179 base andalso to be raised relative to the base. Each [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 43/16hinge consists of a slotted hinge element attached to [58] 7 Field ofSearch ..220/32; 16/ 135, 146, 160, 166, the base and a second hingeelement attached to the l6/ 190, 179 lid. Associated elements of eachpair of hinges are interconnected by a pin which is slidably receivedwithin Reiefences Cited the slot of the slotted hinge elements. One ofthe hinge elements of each pair includes a pair of shoulders and UNITEDSTATES PATENTS the other includes a pair of associated abutment lugs.2,732,580 v l/ 1956 Schwaneke ..16/ 166 One of the shoulders engages oneof the abutment lugs 1,866,874 2 to hold the lid in a spaced horizontalposition and the 2,167,439 1939 other shoulder engages the other lug tohold the lid in 2,473,529 3/1949 a vertical position. A bell crankelement, pivotally at- Millet "16, to the element provides a 2,641,9946/1953 Miller ..l,6/ 166 X notched latch supporting the pin andpredetermining the space between the lid and the base.

8Clain3,6DrawingFigures PATENTEU W 3 I97? 3.682 348 LLOYD P066276CGMMfPWM I WA HINGE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates generally to a hinge assembly for an appliance and inparticular, to a hinge assembly capable of holding the lid of a cookingappliance at rest in selected positions relative to the base.

Almost all portable cooking appliances in use'in the present day kitchenoperateby electricity. This applies in particular to the various grills,waffle irons and other appliances which include a base with anoverfitting lid. In many conventional items of this variety, both thelid and the base include interconnected heating elements and, for thisreason, it is essential that the lid and the base be suitably hingedtogether.

Of the several types of hinge used for this purpose, by far the mostcommon is the piano or strip hinge which includes opposing hingeelements attached to the lid and the base. This hinge permits onlyrotational movement of the lid relative to the base, and results in theheating faces of the lid and the base elements bearing an inclinedrelation to each other when open. Thus, in the grilling of a sandwich,the heating elements do not distribute heat evenly to the item to becooked.

In addition to this disadvantage, the usual hinged lid bears directly onthe sandwich disposed on the base. Moreover, the lid, in addition tobeing in direct contact with the food, tends to squash the food byvirtue of its weight. Another disadvantage of the common hingeconnection is that it does not permit the lid to be held in an uprightposition. Thus, if the appliance is to be versatile and permit thecooking of those food items which must be observed while the cooking isin progress, the lid must be either propped up against a wall or openedfully to a horizontal position. The first of these alternatives rendersthe device somewhat unstable and the second takes up valuable workingspace.

Thus, neither can be considered particularly suitable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present hinge assembly permits the lid tobe swung about the base in the normal manner. In addition, the hingemechanism is articulated such that the lid may be held in place in asubstantially horizontal position spaced above the base. Thus, the heatdistribution is even and, in addition, the weight of the lid does notbear on the sandwich or other item to be cooked.

The lid may be moved to an upright position and held securely in placein that position and yet be easily returned to a closed position. Byapplying a slight upward pull during turning, the lid may also be movedthrough 180 to a fully open position.

This hinge assembly includes base and lid members disposed in overlyingrelation and articulating means interconnecting said members forswinging displacement of the lid member relative to the base memberabout a pivot center, the pivot center being translational.

The articulating means includes a first hinge element attached to thebase member and including a slot, and a second hinge element attached tothe lid and including a pivot pin extending into the slot. The pivot pinprovides the translational pivot center to permit linear displacement ofthe hinge elements relative to each other.

One of the hinge elements includes an abutment engageable by a shoulderon the other hinge element to provide couple resistance to swingabledisplacement of the lid member relative to the base member in onedirection. Similarly, one of the hinge elements includes an abutment andthe other hinge element includes a shoulder engageable by the abutmentto provide couple resistance to swingable displacement of the lid memberrelative to the base member in the other direction. The shoulders aredisposed in spaced relation from the pivot center and are preferablydisposed on the lid member hinge element. Said lid hinge elementincludes an arcuate portion rotatable about the pivot center to avoidinterference with one of said abutments'and is notched to avoidinterference with the other of said abutments.

A bell crank latch element is mounted in pivotal relation to the basemember hinge element, said crank including a notched arm, adjacent theslot, and a counterbalance arm tending to urge said notched arm intoengagement with said pivot pin. The notches provide graduationspredeterrnining the parallel spacing between the lid and base members.

The pivot pin has a shank of non-circular configuration and the notcheson the bell crank are compatibly shaped to engage said pivot pin. Alimit pin carried by the base member hinge element is engageable by thecounterweight arm to limit rotation of said counterweight arm and alignsaid notched arm in overlapping relation to the slot. The pivot pinshank is preferably elliptical and the diameter of the minor axis isless than the net width of the slot and overlapping notched arm topermit said shank to move freely in said slot when the lid member issubstantially upright.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theappliance;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the hinge assemblytaken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the lid held in a spaced,horizontal position above the base;

FIG. 3 is a similar view to FIG. 2 but illustrating the lid held in asubstantially upright position;

FIG. 4 is a similar view to FIG. 2 but with the lid held in the fullyopen position;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view illustrating the individual hinge elements,and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 2 and illustratingthe pivot pin.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now by characters ofreference to the drawing, and first to FIG. 1, it will be understoodthat the appliance is represented by a sandwich toaster and waffle bakercombination, generally shown by numeral 10. The appliance 10 includes abase member 1 1 and a lid member 12, each of said members being providedwith a waffle iron 13.

The lid member 12 is connected to the base member 1 l by a pair ofopposed hinge assemblies, generally indicated by numeral 14, each hingeassembly constituting an articulating means. The hinge assemblies aremirror images of each other and are otherwise substantially identical.For this reason, only one of the hinge assemblies 14 will be described,it being understood that this description applies equally to the other.

In general, the structure of the hinge assemblies 14 base member 11 andheld in a substantially horizontal position as indicated in FIG. 2.Further, the hinge assemblies 14 permit the lid member 12 to be swungabout the rear end of the base member 1 1 by means of a pivoted fronthandle 15 to an upright position, as indicated in FIG. 3, and a fullyopen horizontal position as indicated in FIG. 4. In the latter case, thehandle 15 may be rotated to a position indicated in broken outline bynumeral 16 and thereby provide a support for the front end of the lidmember 12. Feet 20 of each hinge assembly 14 provide rear support forthe base member 11. A pair of conventional feet 21 are provided on theunderside of the base member 11 to support the front of said base member11. Opposed side handles 22 permit the base 1 1, and therefore theappliance as a whole, to be lifted and relocated to any desiredposition.

Turning now specifically to the hinge assembly 14, shown in detail inFIGS. 2 through 5, it will be understood that each hinge assembly 14includes a bracket 23 attached as by fastener 24 to the rear face 25 ofthe hollow base member 1 1. For this purpose, an aperture 26 is providedon an outstanding flange 27 as shown in FIG. 5. The bracket 23constitutes a first hinge element.

The hinge assembly 14 also includes a bracket 30, which is attached asby fasteners 31 to the outside of the rear face 32 of the lid member l2.Apertures 33 are provided in the outstanding flange 34 of the bracketfor this purpose as shown in FIG. 5. The bracket 30 constitutes a secondhinge element.

The brackets 23 and 30 are interconnected by means of a pivot pin 40which is attached to the outstanding leg 35 of the bracket 30 innon-rotatable relation as shown in FIG. 6. The pivot pin includes acircular head 41, a reduced shoulder portion 42, a substantiallyelliptical. shank portion 43 and a reduced diameter threaded portion 44.The outstanding leg 35 is provided with an aperture 36 having a recessedportion 37 accommodating the elliptical shank 43. The pivot pin 40 issecured to the outstanding leg 35 by means of a spring washer and a nut46.

The bracket 23 includes an outstanding leg 47 which is provided with asubstantially vertical slot 50. In its installed position as shown inFIG. 6, the circular shoulder portion 42 of the pivot 40 is receivedwithin the slot 50. The slot 50 is slightly larger than said shoulder 42and permits the pivot 40 to be moved freely along the length of the slot50 and also to be rotated about its own axis within said slot 50. Thus,the lid member 12 may be swung about the base member 11 and may also beraised within the slot 50 relative to the base member 11, the pivot pin40 providing a translating pivot center.

The bracket 23 includes a pair of lugs 51 and 52 constituting abutmentportions. The bracket 30 includes adjacent shoulder portions 53 and 54engageable respectively with associated abutment lugs 51 and 52 tomaintain the lid member 12 in specific positions relative to the basemember 12. The engaging shoulder portion 53 and abutment lug 51constitute a first stop means. The engaging shoulder portion 54 andabutment lug 52 constitute a second stop means.

The hinge assembly 14 permits rotation of the lid member 12 about thepivot pin 40 when said pin 40 is disposed at the bottom of the slot 50,the base hinge bracket 23 being radiused to avoid interference with thecomer of said lid member 12. When the lid member 12 has been rotated toa substantially upright position, the lid hinge bracket 30 may be easilyraised relative to the base hinge bracket 23 because, at this point, anupward force may be applied to the pin 40, causing it to slide upwardlyin the slot 50. When a desired elevation has been achieved, based on therequired space between the waffle irons 13, the lid member 12 may berotated in a clockwise direction about the newly elevated pivot centerand returned to a horizontal position. When the operation is completed,the shoulder 53 of the bracket 30 engages the abutment lug 51 of thebracket 23, as shown in FIG. 2. Because the pivot center is spaced fromthe engaging shoulder 53, said shoulder 53 bears against the abutmentlug 51 and the pin 40 bears against the innermost side of the slot 50.This results in horizontal couple forces being set up which resist thedownward weight of the lid member 12 and said lid member 12 is therebymaintained in spaced, substantially parallel relation to the base member11.

In the preferred embodiment of the hinge assembly, a notched bell crankis provided which constitutes a latch means. This bell crank 60 ispivotally mounted to the lower bracket 23 as by a rivet 61 which extendsthrough an aperture 62 in the outstanding leg 47, and an aperture 63 inthe bell crank 60. The bell crank 60 includes upper and lower angularlyrelated arms 64 and 65 respectively. The upper arm 64 includes aplurality of notches 57 compatibly configurated to receive theelliptical shank 43 of the pivot pin 40 in bearing relation. The lowerarm 65, because of the angular relationship between the arms, tends torotate the bell crank 60 in a counterclockwise direction and intoengagement with the pin 40. A limit stud 55 limits said rotation andaligns the notched edge of the upper bell crank arm 64 in overlappingrelation with the slot 50.

The bell crank 60 is free to rotate in a clockwise direction to theextent permitted by a second limit stud 56. Thus, when the pivot pin 40is moved vertically in the slot 50, said pin 40 simply pushes the bellcrank away from the vicinity of the slot 50, the inclined upper faces 58of the notches 57 providing the necessary cam action to accomplish thispushing action. When the desired elevation has been achieved, theelliptical pivot 40 rotated until the major axis of said pin 40 issubstantially horizontal and the weight of the lid member is released,resulting in the couple action already referred to. The pin 40 isreceived in the bell crank notch 57 closest to it and in effect, thebell crank 60 acts as a gauge predetermining the spacing between thewaffle irons 13.

The minor axis of the pivot pin 40 is smaller than the net width of theslot 50 and the overlapping portion of the bell crank arm 64. Thus, whenit is desired to close the lid member 12, said lid member 12, andtherefore pin 40 are rotated until the lid member 12 is substantiallyupright whereupon said lid member 12 may be lowered without interferencefrom the bell crank 60.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the disposition of hinge parts when the lidmember 12 is held in the upright and fully open positions respectively.For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the lid member 12 is held in theupright position by engagement of the shoulder portion 54 of the bracket30 with the abutment lug 52 of the bracket 23. It will be observed thatthe outstanding leg 35 of the bracket 30 has a quadrant configurationpermitting rotation of the bracket 23 through 90 without interferencefrom the abutment lug 52. Further, the shoulder 54 is tangential to saidquadrant configuration so that it will engage the abutment lug 52 andhold the lid member 12 in the raised position. As a practical matter,the structural arrangement of parts is such that the lid member 12 isinclined slightly rearwardly in the raised position and thus the weightof the lid member 12 is slightly eccentric to the pivot pin 40.Therefore, the pivot pin 40, which bears against the bottom of the slot50, in combination with the engagement of the shoulder 54, which bearsagainst the abutment lug 52, provides couple resistance holding the lidmember 12 in the upright position.

When it is desired to rotate the lid member 12 to the fully openposition from the upright position, the lid member 12 must be raisedslightly so that the shoulder 54 of the bracket 30 clears the abutmentlug 52 of the bracket 23. Further counterclockwise rotation can thentake place until the lid member 12 is substantially horizontal. As shownin FIG. 4, the bracket 30 is provided with a notch 66 adapted to receivethe abutment lug 51 of the bracket 23 and thereby avoid interferencebetween the upper and lower brackets 30 and 23. In the open, horizontalposition, the lid member 12 is conveniently supported at one end by thefront handle 15, which is rotated to provide a leg. The lid member 12 issupported at the other end by the pivot pins 40. Alternatively, the lidmember 12 may be held in a fully open, cantilever position by a coupleforce resulting from bearing engagement of the pin 40 against the sideof the slot 50 and bearing engagement between the face 67 of the bracket30 and the abutment lug 51 of the bracket 23.

It is thought that the functional advantages of this hinge assembly havebecome fully apparent from the foregoing description of parts, but forcompleteness of disclosure, the various operational positions of thislid member 12 relative to the base member 11 i will be brieflysummarized.

The hinge assembly 14 permits the lid member 12 to be rotated about thepivot pin 40. It permits, in addition, the raising of the lid member 12relative to the base member 11 in such a way that the appliance isprovided with spaced and parallel hot plates, such as waffle plates,which are held apart at a selected distance. This particular arrangementis illustrated in FIG. 2, and in this position, the downward weight ofthe lid member 12 is resisted by couple action provided by the pivot pin40, acting against the slot 50, and engagement of the shoulder 53against the abutment lug 51. The relatively short couple arm representedby the spacing between the pivot pin 40 and the point of engagement ofthe shoulder 53 and lug 51 produces a force much in excess of the weightof the lid member and, in consequence, the friction between theengagement points causes a binding which holds the lid member 12 in itspreselected position. The notched edge of the bell crank 60 providesadditional support and also a gauge by which the spacing between theplates may be predetermined. It will be understood that when the lidmember 12 is returned by clockwise motion to the horizontal position,while the pivot pin is elevated, the weight of the base is sufficient toresist any tendency of the appliance to slide. I

When the lid member 12 is rotated slightly beyond the vertical position,the center of gravity of the lid is eccentric to the pivot center. Thelid member 12 is held, slightly out of vertical, by couple actionresulting from engagement of the tangential shoulder 54 against theabutment lug 52 and engagement of the pivot pin 40 against the bottom ofthe slot 50. The lid member 12 is thereby held in a stable,substantially upright position. By pulling slightly upwardly, theshoulder 54 is disengaged from the abutment lug 52 and the lid member 12may be rotated in a continued counterclockwise direction andconveniently supported in the horizontal position by the rotated handle15.

I claim as my invention:

1. A hinge assembly for a cooking appliance or the like, comprising:

a. a base member,

b. a lid member disposed above the base member,

and

c. articulating means including a translating pivot center, saidarticulating means interconnecting said base and lid members intranslational and pivotal relation whereby said lid member may beswingingly displaced about said base member and selectively spaced insubstantially parallel relation above said base member,

the articulating means including:

1. a first hinge element,

2. a second hinge element,

3. interconnecting means between said hinge elements providing thetranslational pivot center that permits the lid member to be raised tothe spaced, substantially parallel relation above the base member,

4. stop means between said hinge elements selec tively engaging tomaintain said selectively spaced, substantially parallel relationbetween said base and lid members,

e. the interconnecting means including a slot having opposed margins,said slot being disposed in one of the said hinge elements, and a pivotpin, providing said pivot center, said pin being attached to the otherof said hinge elements and extending through the slot for translationaland rotational movement therein, and

f. the stop means including an abutment disposed on one of said hingeelements and a shoulder disposed on the other of said hinge elements andselectively engageable with said abutment when the lid member isselectively raised to the spaced, sub stantially parallel relation abovethe base member, to maintain said selectively spaced, substantiallyparallel relation of the lid and base members.

2. A hinge assembly as defined in claim 1, in which:

g. the pivot pin is disposed in spaced relation from the shoulder and isengageable with one margin of the slot to cooperate with the shoulderand abut ment selective engagement whereby to provide couple resistancemaintaining said selectively spaced, substantially parallel relation ofthe lid and base members.

3. A hinge assembly for a cooking appliance or the like, comprising:

the said hinge elements, and a pivot pin, providing said pivot center,said pin being attached to the other of said hinge elements andextending through the slot for translational and rotational a. a basemember,

movement therein, b. a lid member disposed above the base member, f. thestop means includes an abutment disposed on and . one of said hingeelements and a shoulder disposed c. articulating means including atranslating pivot on the other of said hinge elements and engageablecenter, said articulating means interconnecting said base and lidmembers in translational and pivotal relation whereby said lid membermay be swingingly displaced about said base member and selectivelyspaced in substantially parallel relation above said base member,

through the slot for translational and rotational movement therein,

. the stop means includes an abutment disposed on g. latch means mountedto said one hinge element providing a latch element adjacent the slot,said latch element selectively engaging and supporting the pivot pin.

with said abutment, to maintain said selectively spaced relation of thehinge and base members, and

. a bell crank pivotally mounted to said slotted hinge element, saidbell crank having opposed arms, one of said arms being disposed adjacentthe slot and ,th ti l ti means i l di including a plurality of notchesselectively engag- 1 fi t hi l t ing and supporting the pivot pin inlatched rela- 2. a second hinge element,

3. interconnecting means between said hinge ele- A hmge assembly asdefined Clam? whlch:

ments providing the translational pivot center, other m P crank pr9vldesa counter and weight urging said notched arm into engagement 4. stopmeans between said hinge elements main- WF sald pwot i and I tainingsaid selectively spaced, substantially means cap-led by hinge 1S,engageaPle by parallel relation between said base and lid memthecoimtenyelght arm to roianon of Sald. arm bers, ahnd said notch arm withsaid one margin of the interconnecting means including a slot having 6 Oopposed margins, said slot being disposed in one of A hmge F F asdefined m l m whlgh' the said hinge elements, and a pivot pin, providingf pm ncludeds a Shank havmg a non'cncu' said pivot center, said pinbeing attached to the arcon lguranonan other of said hinge elements andextending l. the notches on the bell crank are compatibly configuratedto engage said pivot pin shank. A hinge assembly for a cooking applianceor the like, comprising:

abase member,

a lid member disposed above the base member, and

articulating means including a translating pivot center, saidarticulating means interconnecting said base and lid members intranslational and pivotal relation whereby said lid member may beswingingly displaced about said base member and selectively spaced insubstantially parallel relation above said base member,

4. A hinge assembly for a cooking appliance or the like, comprising:

a. a base member, b. a lid member disposed above the base member,

and c. articulating means including a translating pivot center, saidarticulating means interconnecting said base and lid members intranslational and pivotal relation whereby said lid member may beswingingly displaced about said base member and selectively spaced insubstantially parallel relation above said base member,

d. the articulating means including:

e. the interconnecting means including a slot having opposed margins,said slot being disposed in one of and 4. stop means between said hingeelements main taining said selectively spaced, substantially parallelrelation between said base and lid members, the interconnecting meansincluding a slot disposed in one of said hinge elements, the stop meansincluding an abutment lug disposed on said slotted hinge element and ashoulder disposed on the other hinge element, and

. said other hinge element including a notch receiving the abutment lugdisposed on the slotted hinge element to permit the lid member to beswung into a substantially horizontal fully open position.

8. A hinge assembly for a cooking appliance, comprising:

a base member,

b. a lid member disposed above said base member,

and

c. a pair of articulating means disposed in spaced connecting meansbetween said hinge elementswhereby said lid member may be swinginglydisplaced about said base member and selectively spaced in substantiallyparallel relation about said base member, and

3. the first hinge element including first and second abutment lugs andthe second hinge element including first and second shoulders disposedin spaced relation from the pivot pin,

. said first shoulder engaging said first abutment in spaced relationfrom said pivot to provide couple resistance to swingable displacementof said lid member relative to said base member in one direction, andsaid second shoulder engaging said second abutment in spaced relationfrom said pivot center to provide couple resistance to swingabledisplacement of the lid -member relative to the base member in the otherdirection.

1. A hinge assembly for a cooking appliance or the like, comprising: a.a base member, b. a lid member disposed above the base member, and c.articulating means including a translating pivot center, saidarticulating means interconnecting said base and lid members intranslational and pivotal relation whereby said lid member may beswingingly displaced about said base member and selectively spaced insubstantially parallel relation above said base member, d. thearticulating means including:
 1. a first hinge element,
 2. a secondhinge element,
 3. interconnecting means between said hinge elementsproviding the translational pivot center that permits the lid member tobe raised to the spaced, substantially parallel relation above the basemember,
 4. stop means between said hinge elements selectively engagingto maintain said selectively spaced, substantially parallel relationbetween said base and lid members, e. the interconnecting meansincluding a slot having opposed margins, said slot being disposed in oneof the said hinge elements, and a pivot pin, providing said pivotcenter, said pin being attached to the other of said hinge elements andextending through the slot for translational and rotational movementtherein, and f. the stop means including an abutment disposed on one ofsaid hinge elements and a shoulder disposed on the other of said hingeelements and selectively engageable with said abutment when the lidmember is selectively raised to the spaced, substantially parallelrelation above the base member, to maintain said selectively spaced,substantially parallel relation of the lid and base members.
 2. a secondhinge element,
 2. a second hinge element,
 2. a second hinge element, 2.a second hinge element,
 2. A hinge assembly as defined in claim 1, inwhich: g. the pivot pin is disposed in spaced relation from the shoulderand is engageable with one margin of the slot to cooperate with theshoulder and abutment selective engagement whereby to provide coupleresistance maintaining said selectively spaced, substantially parallelrelation of the lid and base members.
 2. a second hinge element attachedto the lid member and including a pivot pin, said pivot pin extendingthrough and being movable in said slot to provide translational andpivotal interconnecting means between said hinge elements whereby saidlid member may be swingingly displaced about said base member andselectively spaced in substantially parallel relation about said basemember, and
 3. the first hinge element including first and secondabutment lugs and the second hinge element including first and secondshoulders disposed in spaced relation from the pivot pin,
 3. A hingeassembly for a cooking appliance or the like, comprising: a. a basemember, b. a lid member disposed above the base member, and c.articulating means including a translating pivot center, saidarticulating means interconnecting said base and lid members intranslational and pivotal relation whereby said lid member may beswingingly displaced about said base member and selectively spaced insubstantially parallel relation above said base member, d. thearticulating means including:
 3. interconnecting means between saidhinge elements providing the translational pivot center, and 3.interconnecting means between said hinge elements providing thetranslational pivot center, and
 3. interconnecting means between saidhinge elements providing the translational pivot center, and 3.interconnecting means between said hinge elements providing thetranslational pivot center that permits the lid member to be raised tothe spaced, substantially parallel relation above the base member, 4.stop means between said hinge elements selectively engaging to maintainsaid selectively spaced, substantially parallel relation between saidbase and lid members, e. the interconnecting means including a slothaving opposed margins, said slot being disposed in one of the saidhinge elements, and a pivot pin, providing said pivot center, said pinbeing attached to the other of said hinge elements and extending throughthe slot for translational and rotational movement therein, and f. thestop means including an abutment disposed on one of said hinge elementsand a shoulder disposed on the other of said hinge elements andselectively engageable with said abutment when the lid member isselectively raised to the spaced, substantially parallel relation abovethe base member, to maintain said selectively spaced, substantiallyparallel relation of the lid and base members.
 4. stop means betweensaid hinge elements maintaining said selectively spaced, substantiallyparallel relation between said base and lid members, e. theinterconnecting means including a slot having opposed margins, said slotbeing disposed in one of the said hinge elements, and a pivot pin,providing said pivot center, said pin being attached to the other ofsaid hinge elements and extending through the slot for translational androtational movement therein, f. the stop means includes an abutmentdisposed on one of said hinge elements and a shoulder disposed on theother of said hinge elements and engageable with said abutment, tomaintain said selectively spaced relation of the hinge and base members,and g. latch means mounted to said one hinge element providing a latchelement adjacent the slot, said latch element selectively engaging andsupporting the pivot pin.
 4. A hinge assembly for a cooking appliance orthe like, comprising: a. a base member, b. a lid member disposed abovethe base member, and c. articulating means including a translating pivotcenter, said articulating means interconnecting said base and lidmembers in translational and pivotal relation whereby said lid membermay be swingingly displaced about said base member and selectivelyspaced in substantially parallel relation above said base member, d. thearticulating means including:
 4. stop means between said hinge elementsmaintaining said selectively spaced, substantially parallel relationbetween said base and lid members, e. the interconnecting meansincluding a slot having opposed margins, said slot being disposed in oneof the said hinge elements, and a pivot pin, providing said pivotcenter, said pin being attached to the other of said hinge elements andextending through the slot for translational and rotational movementtherein, f. the stop means includes an abutment disposed on one of saidhinge elements and a shoulder disposed on the other of said hingeelements and engageable with said abutment, to maintain said selectivelyspaced relation of the hinge and base members, and g. a bell crankpivotally mounted to said slotted hinge element, said bell crank havingopposed arms, one of said arms being disposed adjacent the slot andincluding a plurality of notches selectively engaging and supporting thepivot pin in latched relation.
 4. stop means between said hinge elementsmaintaining said selectively spaced, substantially parallel relationbetween said base and lid members, e. the interconnecting meansincluding a slot disposed in one of said hinge elements, f. the stopmeans including an abutment lug disposed on said slotted hinge elementand a shoulder disposed on the other hinge element, and g. said otherhinge element including a notch receiving the abutment lug disposed onthe slotted hinge element to permit the lid member to be swung into asubstantially horizontal fully open position.
 4. said first shoulderengaging said first abutment in spaced relation from said pivot toprovide couple resistance to swingable displacement of said lid memberrelative to said base member in one direction, and said second shoulderengaging said second abutment in spaced relation from said pivot centerto provide couple resistance to swingable displacement of the lid memberrelative to the base member in the other direction.
 5. A hinge assemblyas defined in claim 4, in which: h. the other arm of the bell crankprovides a counterweight urging said notched arm into engagement withsaid pivot pin, and i. limit means carried by the hinge is engageable bythe counterweight arm to limit rotation of said arm and align said notcharm with said one margin of the slot.
 6. A hinge assembly as defined inclaim 4, in which: h. the pivot pin includes a shank having anon-circular configuration, and i. the notches on the bell crank arecompatibly configurated to engage said pivot pin shank.
 7. A hingeassembly for a cooking appliance or the like, comprising: a. a basemember, b. a lid member disposed above the base member, and c.articulating means including a translating pivot center, saidarticulating means interconnecting said base and lid members intranslational and pivotal relation whereby said lid member may beswingingly displaced about said base member and selectively spaced insubstantially parallel relation above said base member, d. thearticulating means including:
 8. A hinge assembly for a cookingappliance, comprising: a. a base member, b. a lid member disposed abovesaid base member, and c. a pair of articulating means disposed in spacedrelation at one end of the cooking appliance, each articulating meansincluding horizontally alignable pivot centers, each articulating meansincluding: